Revit on Cloud: BIM 360 versus Virtual Desktop Solution

Choosing between these options is like comparing apples to oranges, since we are talking about two different approaches, where BIM 360 is a complete construction solution for AEC project delivery and construction document management and the other two refer to software that allows personal computers to be run on one system, while being displayed on another.

The pandemic has been a catalyst of remote working, changing how companies worldwide approach the matter. According to a Gartner survey from July 2020, 80% of business leaders planned to allow employees to work remotely even after the pandemic, while 47% are considering a full-time work-from-home system. PWC figures support the same premise, as 78% of CEOs surveyed agree that remote collaboration is here to stay.

The AEC industry has always relied on bringing people of different professions and from different locations together, through technology, as teams of AEC experts use Building Information Modelling (BIM) to plan, design, construct and manage infrastructure.

As remote working is becoming the norm, deploying BIM solutions like Revit on cloud has become mandatory in helping collaborators have access to unified models, wherever they go, as well as in helping companies save money on IT infrastructure and maintenance.

When considering Revit on cloud, many of our clients ask us what option to take into account, mentioning software like BIM 360 and solutions like Remote Desktop or Windows Virtual Desktop. Still, the fact is that choosing between these options is like comparing apples to oranges, since we are talking about two different approaches, where BIM 360 is a complete construction solution for AEC project delivery and construction document management and the other two refer to software that allows personal computers to run on one system, while being displayed on another.

This is why, in order to solve the dilemma and help people understand how to manage distributed working with Revit hosting, we decided to talk about what each solution offers and what premise it needs.

How Revit works

Working with apps like Revit on cloud needs a complex service model. Given the fact that, unlike AutoCAD or Excel, the solution doesn’t have a file lock that prevents users from overwriting documentation that is in use, it becomes more complicated for Revit users to access at the same time and benefit from a good, collaborative experience. This is why it is inadvisable to have several Revit users connect simultaneously to a server through VPN or WAN links.

Instead, solutions like BIM 360, Remote Desktop or Windows Virtual Desktop are necessary.

BIM 360

BIM 360 is a document management system that allows users to share and sync files. This enables multiple professionals to work on Revit from distributed locations, simultaneously and in real time. What the product does is that it uses the resources of local workstations, while ensuring that different users are not editing the same element.

How it works is that a user accesses BIM 360, makes changes and then syncs them with the copy of the model that exists in the cloud.

The benefits are multiple: there is no need for VPN or remote access, employees and contractors may work at the same time and the company doesn’t need to invest in IT infrastructure.

The only aspect that needs to be taken into account is that the terminals that access BIM 360 need to be able to run Revit and that they require an Internet connection of at least 5 Mbps Up/Down.

Revit remote working solutions

The alternative to BIM 360 is choosing a solution designed particularly for remote working. Here, we recommend Remote Desktop and Windows Virtual Desktop, two solutions that are creating a portal through which users may access their office computers. By connecting the machine at home with the one at work, every move done on the first is replicated on the second, thus offering access to business information.

This means that users may benefit from the hardware they have at the office, without needing to move computers or change their infrastructures, as team members may access their machines from a given terminal, be that a computer, a tablet or phone.

Another relevant scenario to be taken into account is that often AEC firms require high configuration systems, with strong graphic cards that may run BIM apps, which have the capacity of graphic emulation. Revit hosting solves this matter, as it is accessed through remote desktop sessions or Windows Virtual Desktop.

The benefits in choosing solutions like Remote Desktop and Windows Virtual Desktop are the following: they require only a broadband internet connection and they offer access to multiple applications, Revit being just one of them. Depending on the solution chosen, a VPN might be required to connect the office to home systems.

Windows Virtual Desktop and Revit Remote Desktop vs BIM 360

At AEC Cloud, we have worked with worldwide clients, helping them identify the best cloud solutions to fit their operational models. Before making a recommendation, we talk to each business team and try to identify their needs, their budgets, resources and what they are willing to do.

If the company needs a temporary, part-time solution, for just a few projects, then BIM 360 might be a good choice, as it is easy to implement and requires little effort.

Still, if the clients are in need for a stable, complete solution that is flexible and dependable in the long run, then Windows Virtual Desktop and Revit Remote Desktop are the ways to go. In these cases, users would benefit from a complete remote capability which would enable them to perform their activities as usual, having full control of their working stations, documentations and programs.

When it comes to pricing, there are some differences. BIM 360 has a rough monthly cost of about $75, reaching around $900 / year / user. In comparison, a mix of Revit application hosting and a remote desktop solution have an average cost of around $200 / month / user, for a package of 10 users. Costwise, BIM 360 appears to be a more accessible option, but, from our experience, application hosting gives users the power of a graphic card packed on a virtual environment, which eliminates investing on hardware or stationed workstations.

At AECCloud, we assist Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and other industries in Revit Cloud deployment. Our cloud solution provides options for different users group to meet their budget, needs, and business objectives. Contact us. if you are considering running Revit on the cloud.